All 42 known species of the parasitic genus of plants RafflesiaOften known as ‘corpses flowers’, they are endangered due to the fugitive destruction of their tropical forest habitats.
Raffles flowers that grow in hanging roots are a rare phenomenon (usually growing flowers of raflesia … [+]
Some of the most enigmatic plants in the world are mysterious Rafflesia species that occur throughout Southeast Asia. As the plants go, Rafflesia The species are extremely strange. They live hidden inside a vine most of the time, do not have observed leaves, stems or roots – they even lack chlorophyll, so they cannot do as most plants do: they cannot be photosynthetized. Of course, it made me wonder how we know Rafflesia actually ARE Plant and not mushrooms?
“[L]Ot of plants lacks chlorophyll (and even leaves); But in addition to a vascular system, Rafflesia Is there all the floral parts that you will expect a flowering plant to have (stamens, pollen, stigma, etc.) – and produces a fruit with seeds, ”explained botanist Chris Thorogood in email. Dr Thorogood is the deputy director and chief of science in the Botanical Garden of the University of Oxford & Arboretum, where he studies adaptive specifications and radiation in plant groups parasitic and carnivorous, especially Rafflesia Species he is also a botanical writer and artist.
“Indeed, it’s nothing like a fungus, physiologically, anatomically or genetically – it just happens to grow within another plant in a similar way (= convergent evolution),” continued Dr. Thorogood.
Basically, Rafflesia They are made thieves, a botanical carpet that lives hidden within a vine that they parasitize; making their living by stealing nutrients and water – and also mitochondria – from their host plants. Arctic, they even steal DNA from the hosts of their plants in a process known as horizontal transfer, which is common in bacteria. Their molecular kleptomania makes Rafflesia unique between vascular plants. It also makes the study of their genetics and philogeny quite difficult.
Closing a glasses of a kerrrrheri kerrii. Photo taken near Khao Sok NP, Surat Thani, Thailand. … [+]
If all of these particular traits are not enough to promote your interest, you may be interested in learning it Rafflesia The species produce a large bud like cabbage that turns into a giant rubber-like flower are spectacular large, as large as 122 cm (4 feet) in diameter-so one of their usual names, “monster flower”. And these flowers look and smell like rotten flesh, giving them another ordinary name, “lily of the stinking corpse”. Their revolting stench attracts other flies and insects that are irresistically attracted to the career smell. These insects end up wearing a thick, adhesive fluid that dries over their bodies and serves to pollinate the flower.
Why are the flowers so great if the plants rely on the (not so large) flies to pollute them?
“Excellent question,” Dr Thogood replied to the email. “Flowers pollinated by flies have gone through the tree of the family of flowering plants. They resemble corpses (reddish-brown coloring, hair and so on), and essentially, they nuzzle Really bad – this dupes flies thinking that a flower is a source for them to lay eggs. “
“Rafflesia Flowers are no exception: they ‘pretend’ to be corpses to attract flies through deceit – drawing them with bad smell of rotten meat to get and give pollen, without any reward, ”Dr Thorogood explained in the email. “In other words, Rafflesia It’s a great shame! Women’s flies are targeted especially because their mother’s instincts are used: the greater the corpse, the better the source for their offspring. Similar white lies have emerged throughout the kingdom of plants in this way; but Rafflesia Wins the award for the biggest. “
Despite his enigmatic nature, Rafflesia The species have long been used for medicinal purposes by indigenous peoples and, most recently, as a source of income generated by ecotourism. And yet, despite their popularity and the strong scientific curiosity they have inspired, these plants are poorly understood because they are difficult (or even impossible) to be cultivated, and its seeds cannot be stored for long periods.
Unfortunately, at this time, only one species of Rafflesia (Rafflesia Magnifica) is officially ranked as “heavily endangered” by the biodiversity conservation organization, the international union for conservation of nature (IUCN). But Dr. Thorogood and an international team of collaborators argue in their recent review of gender preservation status (REF) – the first evaluation of the threats that these magnificent plants face – that all 42 known species of Rafflesia (Figure 1) should be added to the IUCN ‘Red List’ of Threatened Species.
Figure 1 Map showing diversity in the genus Rafflesia throughout the Malesian floristic region. … [+]
According to estimates by Dr. Thogood and collaborators, 60% of all known Rafflesia Species face a severe risk of extinction (critically endangered [CR]) Due to the destruction of wholesale habitat and deforestation for wood extraction and transformation into oil palm plantations and other monocultural crops. Dr. Thorogood and collaborators report that many populations are estimated to count only a few hundred individuals. Further, they notice that at least 67% known Rafflesia Habitates are not protected at all, thus intensifying the overall weakness of these plants.
“Alarmingly, recent observations suggest that taxes are still disappearing before they are also known for science,” Dr Thorogood and collaborators in their Review warns.
Can we do to help protect and preserve these extraordinary plants?
“We propose a multi -directional storage approach by combining strengthened taxonomy, former situation Spread, ecotourism and an extension of protected areas, ”write Dr. Thorogood and collaborators. This conservation approach should also include campaigns to raise public awareness on social media networks created to protect the areas where these plants live. Further, Dr. Thogood and collaborators are encouraging ecotourism so that indigenous local communities benefit from Rafflesia preservation
“Indigenous peoples are some of the best guardians of our forests, and Rafflesia Storage programs are much more likely to be successful if they deal with local communities. “
“Finally, we propose to decide Rafflesia As a new icon for preserving plants in Asian tropics, ”write Dr. Thorogood and hopeful associates (Ref). “A combined approach can simply save some of the most prominent flowers in the world, most of which are now on the verge of loss.”
Source:
Pastor Malabrigo Jr., Adriane B. Tobias, Joko Witono, Sofi Mursidawati, Agus Susatya, Mat Yunoh Siti-Munirah, Adhityo WiKaksono, Reza Raidhany, Sarah Edvard and Chris J. Thorogood (2025). Review: Most of the largest flowers in the world (gender Rafflesia) are now on the verge of extinction, Plants, people, plans 7(2): 331–346 | DOI: 10.1002/PPP3.10431
More reading:
You may want to read the latest Dr. Thogood’s book ,, Forestless Forest: Searching to save the world’s largest flowers (Penguin Books, 2025; Amazon US / Amazon UK), which tells the story of his journey to find and document these magnificent plants in the wild. (My review is coming soon.)
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